3 Gadgets for a Better Night's Sleep

Two thirds of Americans say they don't get enough shut-eye, according to the National Sleep Foundation. New high-tech sleep trackers promise to clue you in to what's sabotaging your rest. A few weary women pillow-tested them for a week.

Yawn if you relate: Two thirds of Americans say they don't get enough shut-eye, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But a slew of new high-tech sleep trackers promise to clue you in to what's sabotaging your rest. We asked a few weary women to pillow-test them for a week.

THE ZZZITUATION: "I lie awake forever." —HOLLY HAYS, 35

THE GADGET:The Zeo ($150; MyZeo.com), a computerized headband worn at night. "After I uploaded info from the headband to Zeo's website, I got an email saying that having a late dinner and watching TV before bed may have kept me awake. So I tried eating earlier and reading; by the end of the week, I nodded off in five minutes!"

THE ZZZITUATION: "I fall asleep quickly, but a leaf drops in the backyard and I'm up." —ELIZABETH SHIPLEY, 40

THE GADGET:The WakeMate ($60; wakemate.com), a wristband that records movement during sleep and wirelessly uploads results to its website. "It tracked me waking up multiple times per night—I had no idea!" says Elizabeth, who figured out solutions on her own: "I realized that stress-inducing stuff, like looking at bills before bed, makes me restless. Now I do stretches and breathing exercises, and I'm sleeping more soundly."

THE ZZZITUATION: "I get nine hours of sleep, but in the morning I'm still so tired." —MAYA DALIO, 37

THE GADGET:The Lark($100; lark.com), another wristband that picks up movement as you sleep and automatically uploads data. "The feedback was inconsistent," Maya says. "One morning it told me I had woken up 16 times and that I'd slept 'very well.'" (What the device didn't tell Maya is that waking up multiple times and still feeling tired after hours of sleep are classic symptoms of sleep apnea.)

SO, DO YOU NEED ONE? Although these gadgets clue you in to sleep issues, they're not essential. Stress less, cut down on coffee, and avoid TV and work right before bed. Trust us, you'll feel better in the morning.